[Book Introduction] KOSEN Students Learn History: What Was "That War"?
Introduction
Hello, I am mori, a student in a certain KOSEN advanced course.
I have always thought about something.
KOSEN students have way too little general education!!!
KOSEN students spend five years (plus two years for the advanced course) from their first year of high school to their second year of university, but because there are many science and mathematics lectures, there are almost no social studies (history, geography, civics, etc.) lectures during that time.
To my recollection, out of the five years at KOSEN, the number of social studies lectures was about 10. (By the way, there are also few humanities lectures such as Japanese language...)
Partly because of this, KOSEN students have significantly less knowledge regarding general education compared to people from regular high schools.
I personally believe that this narrows the breadth of knowledge that should have been gained by learning general education, which may narrow the breadth of ideas and thinking.
Regarding history, there is a saying I like:"Learning history is a prescription against conspiracy theories"This is the idea that by learning how the masses have been incited throughout recurring history, it becomes harder to fall for common conspiracy theories.
Based on the thinking above, I have recently been trying to read books on history and geography as my interests lead me.
(I'm saying something high-minded, but my own general education is also quite shaky, haha.)
Among them, I would like to introduce the book I read recently that I learned the most from.
1. Overview of the book
Title: What Was "That War"?
Author: Masanori Tsujita
Publisher: Kodansha Ltd.
This is an attempt to connect "that war" in Japan to the major flow leading to the present, accept it again as "our story," and ultimately answer the ultimate question of "what was that war?"
This is a book written about what the things often called the last war, that war, or the Great War actually are, and how we Japanese should accept them.
2. Reading notes
Below is the part I felt was important in my notes when I read this book.※There may be mistakes, so I recommend actually reading the book.
How to perceive "that war"
15-Year War Historical View
The idea that "that war" began with the Manchurian Incident.
Emperor Heisei probably also held this view.
A historical view with a strong leftist tendency.
"East Asia Hundred Years' War" Theory
Started to be advocated by Fusao Hayashi.
The perspective that the Greater East Asia War was the final phase of Japan's counter-war against the colonialism of Western powers.
Positioning the East Asian Hundred Years' War as the East Asian War of Liberation.
A historical view with a strong right-wing tendency.
Positivism
The idea that one should reject such grand overviews and instead conduct detailed analysis based on historical documents.
How does the current 'Greater East Asia' view Japan?
Singapore
In history museums and similar venues, it had the most critical exhibits regarding Japan among the countries of Greater East Asia introduced.
There is also the aspect that the Japanese occupation was a convenient symbol for fostering post-war national consciousness and defense awareness.
Indonesia
It possessed abundant natural resources, and oil alone from Indonesia was enough to meet pre-war Japan's demand.
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In history museums and similar venues, it severely criticizes Japan's actions, just like Singapore.
However, it is even more critical of the former suzerain state, the Netherlands, than of Japan.
Thailand
During the war, it was an ally of Japan and declared war on the US and UK one month after Japan did.
However, in reality, there was mutual distrust with Japan, and clashes occurred frequently.
After Japan's defeat, it maneuvered skillfully and invalidated its declaration of war.
Due to these circumstances, the military museum in Bangkok strongly emphasizes the history of resistance against Japan.
Changchun, China
A land located at the northern end of the South Manchuria Railway
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It is almost impossible to find positive descriptions of pre-war Japan.
In China, the historical view that the Chinese Communist Party fought as the main force in the War of Resistance Against Japan is upheld, and this serves as a key pillar supporting the legitimacy of the current one-party dictatorship.
Any stance that re-evaluates the Japan of that time could shake the foundations of the regime and is politically unacceptable.
They develop a narrative that Japan was consistently planning the invasion of China, while the Chinese Communist Party consistently maintained its resistance against Japan.
However, the official state view presented is that resentment should not be continued.
The Philippines
The site of the fiercest battle of the Greater East Asia War
Across the Philippines, over a million people were sacrificed throughout the war, and such tragic memories remain strong.
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For some time after the war, strong anti-Japanese sentiment was deeply rooted, but the expression of apologies became a factor in reconciliation.
Also, there is the aspect that the oppression under the Marcos regime caused the oppression during the Japanese era to be viewed in relative terms.
Currently, there are friendly relations with Japan.
What becomes clear from the above
History is, after all, not just a list of facts, but a narrative constructed based on a certain historical view and set of values.
When will that war end?
Scenarios for the end
Weathering
The war is no longer a subject of urgent concern, and given this situation, the most realistic form of that war effectively ending might be through the weathering of memory.Overwriting
A forced overwriting by a larger war or an even more serious historical experience.The author's ideal
That eventually, that war will settle into its proper place.
Since history is always an interpretation told from someone's perspective and there is no such thing as complete objectivity, perhaps there is no need to force a search for a neutral name that feigns objectivity.
It is important to have a perspective that there is no need to be caught up in extreme ideas like 100 points or 0 points when finding an appropriate middle ground.
What the author wants to choose is a path that largely affirms the country of Japan itself by slightly negating Japan's actions during the war. (There is much to be learned from the fact that Japan advocated for Asianism and insisted on the abolition of racial discrimination, etc.)
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If you focus only on the Showa-era war, it inevitably becomes difficult to provide an affirmative explanation, and if you try to force it, you are likely to fall into an absurd historical view.
Therefore, it is necessary to re-examine that war within the context of modern history as a whole.
By doing so, wouldn't a 65-point historical view that is not extremely biased emerge?
3. Impressions
Reading this book, I was able to not only gain knowledge of modern Japanese history (I learned for the first time that the wartime Prime Minister was Hideki Tojo, haha), but also learn how history is constructed and the necessity of learning and thinking about history.
Also, I would like to introduce the following two phrases that left an impression on me.
Some people might feel that they didn't know about it in the first place, but what is important here is not whether you really knew it or not, but the attitude of responding that you will not forget when you receive such words. If you don't know, you should take this opportunity to learn. That will be the first step toward sharing memories.
Don't we have an unconscious assumption that history museums in other countries like China are ideologically biased and untrustworthy, while Japanese ones are neutral and reliable? However, Japanese historical exhibits are not always accurate either. Rather, Japan has its own problems and limitations.
Regarding the first one, it is something that also connects to modern bullying, isn't it? I learned from this phrase that if you start saying things like 'How long do I have to keep apologizing!!' or 'I didn't know about that in the first place!!', the gap between the two sides will never be bridged.
Regarding the second one, I was made aware that such a bias had arisen within me unconsciously as well.
As a common point for both, I think it can be said that by only seeing or thinking about things from one side's position, we fail to bridge gaps that could be bridged and fail to learn what could be learned.
I thought this was a perspective that we in modern Japan, who face numerous conflict issues such as immigration problems, should have.
4. Finally
I think it was very good to be able to read this book in this year, which marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the war.
Not only was I able to learn about modern Japanese history, but I was also able to gain ways of thinking and perspectives that can be applied to the present day.
It has become long, but if you have time, I would definitely like you all to read it!!
I will continue to post book introductions and various daily things, so I would appreciate your support!!